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Champ to Survivor Fans: Don't Be Too Hard on Dreamz
Andria "Dreamz" Herd and Earl Cole by Jeffrey R. Staab/CBS
By a unanimous vote, Earl Cole — the thoughtful, soft-spoken advertising executive from Kansas City, Missouri — on Sunday night became the newest member of the Survivor millionaire club. But as so often has been the case this season, the talk was all about Andria "Dreamz" Herd, whose final flip-flop may go down as the biggest betrayal ever in Survivor history.
"I'm sorry, Yau-Man." Those three little words had huge implications in a season that had seen its share of tricks — most of them pulled by Yau-Man Chan. Early on, Chan showed himself to be a wily castaway quick to improvise in situations that could lend him an advantage. Chan, who once used a welcome-back-to-camp hug as cover to inspect a competitor's bag, later swapped an immunity idol with a fake to throw off its other seekers.
Unfortunately for Chan, his riskiest move of giving a Ford truck (won as a reward) to Dreamz in exchange for final-four immunity cost Chan the game, when Dreamz reneged on his promise. "I was quite disappointed," says Chan, who was viewed by many as a lock for the finals. "He basically outplayed me. I have to accept that."
After much talk of being a man who honors his word, a man of whom his son could be proud, Dreamz blamed his change of heart on a game that he felt encouraged lying. Although he regrets that his decision to retain immunity hurt Chan, he would not do things differently if given the chance: "I'm happy with the spot I'm in."
Dreamz, along with Cassandra Franklin, was one of three African Americans to make it to the finals — a Survivor first. However, his impulsive game-play was very different from Cole's, whose behind-the-scenes maneuvering, smart alliances and numerous stays on Exile Island earned him the honor of being the first black man to win the title. "I feel good about that, and I'm glad that I played a good, smart game," says Cole, who actually hopes the country will understand Dreamz's choices. "He had one strategy, I had another," says the champ. "I don't know how America is going to feel about what Dreamz did, but hopefully they won't be too hard on him." — Reporting by Rhoda Charles
For more of what Earl had to say about his big win, click here.
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May 14, 2007 12:38 PM
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I am perplexed as to why everyone thinks that Dreamz "cost" Yau-man the game. The Ford was a part of a REWARD CHALLENGE, not any sort of immunity. Yau-man did not give up any place in the game, only a reward. Bottom line... whether or not Dreamz had agreed to that, Ya-man did not win immunity and was the biggest threat. Had Dreamz not agreed to take the truck, yau-man would STILL have lost immunity and STILL gotten voted out.
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May 14, 2007 2:23 PM
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I have nothing against how Dreamz played the game, but I do have a problem with how he lied about it on the reunion show. I understand that lying is part of the game, which is why I have little respect for jury members who scold finalists for their lack of integrity. However, I don't believe Dreamz's assertions that he never intended to live up to his agreement with Yau Man. Of course he should lie to the other players in the game to make them think he'll honor the agreement. The problem is that he also lied in his private interviews (where he made the comment about wanting to make his son proud). If you are really a scheming mastermind, and not the bumbling fool that you appear to be, you brag about your strategy and how you're controlling the game in your private interviews. You don't brag about your honor and integrity. Dreamz appears to live in an alternate reality where past events change to suit his present needs.
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May 14, 2007 2:38 PM
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When Dreamz spoke of how important his honor was to him, in the eyes of his son in particular, he gave no hint of his current stance that the game was about lying. He really had me (and apparently many others) believing that he would honor his promise and give the immunity necklace to Yau-Man. Now, Yau told him to enjoy the truck, but the fact that Dreamz never even bothered to give the truck back speaks volumes.
I was very happy to see that Earl was unanimously chosen as the sole Survivor and I hope Dreamz takes that as a commentary on how poorly and dishonorably he played. I hope he learns that his level of deceit and the way he's trying to spin it into something else will be his downfall if he's not careful. Yau-Man, on the other hand, is rightly destined to be recognized and rewarded for his strategy, his good deed and the honorable manner in which he held himself in the Finale.
I was disappointed when Earl voted Yau-Man out, but he didn't try to downplay it. He was forthright when he told Yau he couldn't beat him in the final and I think that honesty won him the money.
It's been very interesting to see all the shades and facets of humanity (and inhumanity) so realistically portrayed in every season of this show.
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May 14, 2007 3:01 PM
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I disagree with the first comment - if Yau Man was not counting on Dreamz to honor his word about giving him the Immunity idol, he would have held out and most likely could have won it himself! Yau had already won at least one endurance Immunity and he surely could have done it again, if he wasn't counting on getting it from Dreamz. He would NOT have lost that contest - he would have gotten immunity and be depositing $1M right now... As it is, Dreamz has really changed his life, all right, FOR THE WORST!  but he is such an idiot, I don't think he even gets it STILL!!
Yao Man has won more than money, and Earl is really a special man - glad he won, if YauMan couldn't - he has already given half to his MOM!! what a babe! I wanted to marry him before he won - I don't care about the money - but he is a real doll!!
Can't wait til the next one, can you???
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May 14, 2007 3:10 PM
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another thing, Yao thought that Dreamz was a threat earlier in the game and had mentioned voting him out before the final 4, but Earl wanted to keep Dreamz. If Dreamz hadn't promised the necklace, Dreamz would have been voted out before Boo, therefore, still giving Yao a good chance of being in the final 3.
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May 14, 2007 3:22 PM
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America is hard on Dreamz -- and rightly so -- for not being a "man." He shouldn't have sold himself to the others as an honorable man. Regarding the truck, if he only said "I promise to give you the idol" and left it at that, I don't think as many people would critize him. But his lying involved mentioning his son's respect and swearing to God -- and neither needed to be mentioned, IMO. Plus, it didn't help that backtracked against the more likeable Yao-Man.
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May 14, 2007 3:58 PM
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I thought Earl was from Kansas City, Kansas. That is what was shown as Earl's home town on the finale.
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May 14, 2007 5:18 PM
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While I was disappointed that Yau was elminated, Dreamz did make one good point during tribal council in that their actions during the game didn't necessarily reflect "real life."
With that said, people get screwed over in real life all the time, that's just an unfortunate part of life.
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May 14, 2007 6:51 PM
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Dreamz the biggest scum bag in the world.
When you swore to your word, to God,
and your child you know you wanted the offer with no intention of being honest
and true to your word.There was no strategy involved and you know it. Liar.
Tribal council did well, good job Mookie,Boo, and Michelle.
Earl is also a dishonest man,not much to say about it but he'll have to live with it.
Felt bad for Yau Man but have a great deal of respect for him.
Dignity, integrity, and smarts earned you more than the million.I'm on your fan list.
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May 14, 2007 7:05 PM
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I was appalled to see Dreamz screw Yau Man the way he did. Yes it is a game with lots of twists and turns & alliances that are questionable to say the least. But it is possible to play the game with integrity and still come out on top. I sincerely hope that he gives the truck back to Yau Man. If not I hope that any one associated with him considers his heinous actions and also ask the question "What kind of man is he really". I feel for his son that his father has exibited such shameful behavior!
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May 14, 2007 8:13 PM
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I wouldn't have trusted Dreamz any farther than I could have thrown him! He blabbed back and forth to each alliance every round. I would have NEVER given him the truck just on his word. His word is worth nothing!! I'm glad he not only lost, but lost unaninmously!!!!!!!!
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May 14, 2007 9:25 PM
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While it is a game and outwitting & outplaying other contestants is a part of it, I think Dreamz comment about it [his situation] being unapplicable to real life is just another excuse. Yes, by all means, it is applicable to reality because the concept of Survivor is no different than the capitalist world in which people/businesses must outwit/out"play"/outlast others. But speaking more towards a "game" (as he had put it), it still doesn't justify talking about honor (and his son) and God. If that's the case, then who is to say that lying or going back on one's word is wrong in sports? Baseball, football, soccer, etc. are all games with, in the end, money on the line. What are kids suppose to think? If they become influenced by him and gain the same mindset, they'll see nothing wrong with going back on their word to others (whether in a game or outside).
Dreamz gets my sympathy for once being homeless, I'll give him that, but his actions did not show him to be a trustworthy or respectable person. Realistically speaking, he had to have been naive to think that he'd win. It isn't, after all, just a matter of making it to the final 3 (or 2, as Cassandra, Dreamz, and Earl had apparently though); it is, rather, about making sure the Jury likes you [him] enough to vote for.
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May 14, 2007 10:06 PM
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Dreamz is a low life scum bag. His greedy desire for the truck made him JUMP at the deal that Yau offered him. Only later did it dawn on him that it would cost him a spot in the top three, AFTER he found out that three would be going to final tribal. Did he REALLY think that kicking Yau out of the final three increased his own chances of winning a million dollars?
Not a chance! Dreamz really was fantasizing about a million bucks!?! The outwit, outsmart, blah-blah-blah that he sputtered at the end was a feeble cover for his greedy backstab of Yau. The jury made that pretty clear with their 100% vote for Earl. Cassandra's comment that Dreamz was THAT smart was a nice try for a friend, but hardly believable. Earl summed it up when he said he truly thought Dreamz would keep his word. Why else would Dreamz feel so guilty when he told Jeff he was going to keep the necklace? GUILT, GUILT, GUILT. I wish he had the decency to return the truck to Yau, otherwise, I hope someone steals it.
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May 15, 2007 10:56 PM
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